September 3, 2012

Hola mi maravillosa familia y amigos,

Les querio muchisimo, vosotros soís los mejores familiares y amigos
en todo el mundo. No prodria haber recibido mejores (You are the best
family and friends in the world, I could not have had any better). What a
great Birthday here in the mission. I have been tripping out a little
bit every time I have been reminded of how much time has passed by and
how fast time keeps flying by. It is so crazy. First off, family, you
are the best. I got the package on Tuesday, the day before, and waited
till Wednesday morning to open it like a good boy. WOW, so much stuff! I
love everyting! The ties could not have been better picked, I love
them. My family and friends really know me because everything was
perfect. The music, oh man, you can not get better than a little country
church music. The ring is sweet. The huge bag of Swedish Fish and
Bottle Caps, WOW, how could you know me any better?! Also , the cool bag
for toiletries, it's all exactly what I needed and wanted. You are
amazing all of you. Mom I love you so much. I know you were the head of
putting all that together. What a Mother and woman, who raised me. It's a
good thing I got the best, because anything less and I might not have
turned out. The best was needed to raise me, and that's exactly what I
got.

Just a little comment: I have been amazed to hear all the stories
and testimonies of my friends. It's crazy to see the amount of growth
among us all. I could barely hold in my emotions of excitement and love
for my friends as I heard their stories, testimonies, and growths. I
want to give a shout out to all of them: Elder J stew, E Dox the Fox, E
Richard Dowd, E Trentikans Howard (almost dead can't believe it,
AP!!!!!! I can believe it), E Terry, E Burdett (pretty much Mexican
now), E Porter, E Skousen, E White and so many more. We are really an
Army. I love you all. Keep working hard and building the kingdom all
over the world. Thanks for all your great examples to me.

Ok, now for some quick thanks. First off, again, with my wonderful
family, thanks for the package. Also, I got both things from ArtsCow,
thanks Brit, they are awesome. Jenna, thanks a ton for the tie. It is
super awesome - I love it. Thanks for thinking of me on my birthday.
Aunt Vicky, one of the most amazing aunts ever, for your letter and
money. Tres, for your awesomeness, I am sad to hear he left the Young
Mens. Just goes to show that I really was surrounded by the greatest (
All the new guys are awesome too). Natalie, for the way sweet cookies.
You sure know me well, too. Everyone else who sent me their wishes for
my b-day. I love you all!!!! (Mother, yes I can change money here very
easily)

Ok, now for a little on what happened this week. Wow, everyone
wanted to celebrate my birthday. I had my fair share of little
celebrations. First, Estafani and her fam ( stef is a member the rest
aren't) they love us and did an awesome little party for me with tons of
food, balloons, cake and fake candles that wouldn't go out - that
tricked me haha. Also, mamita gave us cake. The familia Mancilla as well
had a party ready for me with completos and cake with real candles
haha. I was well taken care of and felt the love from all over Chile,
the states and maybe even other places ha. Besides birthday stuff it's
been a crazy week. First, I lead my first district meeting this week. I
felt like it went really good and at least I enjoyed the meeting haha. I
hope others did as well. We talked a lot about attitude and how we can
do better in our contacts because the standard is to do 140 every week,
not how we should be doing them to get the numbers, but to get to know
them and try to help them realize by applying the gospel it can help
them with any need or challenge they have. Other news, we have been
working on all the stuff and pains of changing Mamitas...... I am very
sad. I sure loved Mamita Mabel, but she has done it for 20 years and I
think she was ready for a rest from all her selfless service she gave to
us and focus a little more on giving it to others now ha. So we
struggled to find someone to take us in. Then one day suddenly, at about
7:20 in the morning I hear a yell outside our gate. I look out to see a
very sweaty, breathing hard E Contreras and his comp. They had run to
our house for exercise to tell us that their Mamita was really close
and that we could come eat with them. So that's what we did and we met
her today. So everything worked out and we won't be going hungry like we
were thinking we might have to for a little bit. A little bit on the
work. We are working hard and searching a lot for new people. We have
been knocking a lot and contacting as many as we possibly can. It has
been a struggle, but we are slowly beginning to see the fruits of hard
work and obedience. We will continue to work harder and harder and obey
with even more exactness and I know that the miracles will come. I love
missionary work. Nothing better than a good hard day of mission work.

I cannot believe that Caiden separated his shoulder. Why would you
let some kid do that to you? I am not a fighter, but when I was on the
football field I didn't let kids treat me like that. You just need to
show those kinda guys that you don't grab my face mask or your hand is
going to get torn off of there, haha. Sorry bud about your shoulder. I
hope you can punch through the pain and get back out there on the field
to go knock some kids on their bums with that skinny body of yours haha.

Now for a little bit of my testimony: I am so used to always
leaving everyone with at least a little spiritual thought that I can't
not do it with everything I do ha. One thing that I keep realizing more
and more is the wonderful and amazingly perfect plan that God has given
us. He gave us agency, the ultimate tool, to help us to grow, but
understood the huge responsibility that would put on us. Knowing that we
could not blame outside factors for the bad choices we would make, he
sent His Son, our Savior, to pay for those mistakes and pains so we
could be cleansed and pure to be worthy of the presence, guidance, and
empowering help of the Holy Ghost, who can help us to rise to the huge
responsibility of free agency and become like our Savior Jesus Christ.
Like E. Porter said, "with his face engraven in ours". And as my great
friend E J Stew so perfectly expressed of his gratitude for the
atonement and the opportunity it gives us to locate our weaknesses and
become better. I share the same gratitude with my good amigo ha. I love
you all. Thanks for your many prayers, thoughts, and all your love.